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NAACP vs. Jay-Z
Posted by KPope
Yesterday, OpenEntrance reported on the burial of the N-word at a ceremony being held at the National Convention for the NAACP in Detroit. At the opening of the convention Chairman Julian Bond referenced Jay-Z during a news conference:
“We don’t believe it’s a violation of the First Amendment to say to somebody you ought not to talk that way, you ought not denigrate women, you ought not condemn people because of the color of their skin. I heard somebody say that when Jay-Z talks about ho’s, he gets a gold record. When Don Imus talks about ho’s, he gets fired. We believe in equal justice and equal justice for everyone.”
Cmon Julian….not Jay-Z! There are many other rappers that you could have used in this situation that would have “made sense of you statements. I am not saying Jay is excused or has not used these terms before, but his lyrical content has changed so much + he is one of the only rappers who gives back to the community in large ways (i.e- $1 million to Katrina Victims, while also donating to various charities and agencies as well). I appreciate the NAACP and all that they have done and will continue to do for the black community, but Julian, using Jay Z to help your opening was not a good example!
I’m with Pope on this one; I’m not go give Jay a pass, but i do agree that he was probably the worst example Julian Bond could have cited. The only person who may have been worse was Chamillionaire who does not curse at all in his songs, but Jay hasn’t really made any reckless songs in a while and he really is an example of what one can do if they use rap to further their life goals and not album sales. He should have cited 50.
It sounds like both of you are give HOV a pass.
I would have to disagree with both of you and say Jay-Z was the best example. If Jay-Z is at the top of the game right now then that’s exactly where the reference should be made…at the top. Why reference a local or regional artist? Jay-Z is known world wide. The purpose of the convention was to bury the n word. If HOV uses it he’s in the wrong in the eyes of the convention goers regardless of his positives. Is it ok to fight drugs in our community, but put a big time dope boy on a pedal stool because he’s giving back to one community but supplying the product in another? Wrong is wrong my brothers!
So Rod it looks like you are taking the position that the N word is wrong. Am I correct in my interpretation? If so that starts a bigger argument. I don’t think it’s totally wrong, I agree that it should be limited in terms of its use, but I don’t think it’s totally wrong, so wrong is not wrong in this case in my opinion.
I don’t think that Jay-Z was a bad example, but an easy one. There are far more worse offenders.
The reason Jay-Z was used was because he is the biggest in the game and therefore gets the most attention. My real problem was not scapegoating a rapper or entertainer, but in the lame, publicity stunts that our Black Leadership has resorted to protest issues. Burying the N-Word? Come on!! With all the cameras rolling, they get a coffin and symbolically bury the N-Word.
More and more I have become dissappointed with the lame attempts at leadership that exists today. There only seems to be protest about the issues that bring publicity. The NAACP should have been spending that time protesting the lack of coverage that the Stepha Henry case has received, rather than this pointless act of showmanship. Go after the issues the make sense and are worth winning, not headlines!
Shak
Your interpretation is wrong… I think what rod was saying was saying if the protesters are trying to stop the use of the N word then yelling at the cat on the corner pressing mix tapes might not be that effective. Hov has a recognizeable name and if he goes on record to put forth the effort to not use the word anymore then that may drive some serious change.
Brian
What do you think the NAACP should do to make themselves more relevant. The reason they are always jumpin in front the camera with gimmicks and stunts is because its gets there name out to more people. The N word burial gets their name out to more people. Placing all their efforts towards Stepha Henry would not help grow the organizations name. Now don’t get me wrong i would hope that they would dedicate some resources toward the Henry cases but knock them for marketing themselves.
Every organization has a marketing team.
Brandon,
I agree that every organization has a marketing tesm, but I’m with Brian on this one, the NAACP needs to step their marketing game up. I should be able to say what their mission is. I feel like I’m knowledgable on a number of subjects, but I really think they need to get back to relevancy by engaging people in their work, not by finding other Black people to criticize, that has never been the mission of the organization. And since when were you ever colered? I’ve been Black or Afircan American, or a person of color all my life. Let a white person call you colored, will you give them a pass? I don’t think so. Tha National Association for the Advancement of People Of Color should be the new name. NAAPOC
WELL OME ON HIP-HOP NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED ITS GONE TO FAR!!!!!LISTEN TO THE SOUTHERN HIP HOP ITS CRAP!!!!
I cant really say too much on Jay-Z’s music since Im not really a fan, but I am in his defense just off of the strength that he is not the only rapper on earth that has had offensive lyrics at one time or another.
ok i’m always amazed at the ridiculous focus we have on things like the N word. First of all the word only feeds of the energy you give it. Second it’s not going anywhere just like the immigration issue. It would seem to me that we show our maturation as a society by not giving certain issues any time or energy. When do we really start tackling issues in a manner that shows we have accomplished something and gained a sense of progression over things that we could have done away with years ago. Or things that we should have mastered decades ago.
[...] is that Jay-Z is leaving Island Def Jam and heading over to Columbia Records. The Jigga Man would take with him [...]
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